Agitating apparatus

ABSTRACT

An agitating apparatus is described wherein an improved agitator system is employed in cooperation with a container so as to thoroughly mix a dispensable fluid which is positioned within the container and wherein the container has a removable top or cover portion. The agitator system includes a magnetic coupling arrangement associated therewith which is driven by a fluid motor impeller. The impeller is driven by a fluid which is customarily available at little or no cost and which is further utilized in the system or subsequently dispensed with the concentrate so as to eliminate the requirement of discarding the same. A removable stirring element is suspended from the container top or cover portion in order to prevent the same from being lost or being interferred with during the cleaning or replacement of the container.

United States Patent 1 Sedam v 1 [111 3,744,764 1 July 10, 1973 [73]Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta,

22 Filed: Feb.2, 1971 2! Appl. No.: 111,959

Primary Examiner.lohn Petrakes Assistant Examiner-Philip R. CoeAttorney-William Dexter Brooks [57] ABSTRACT An agitating apparatus isdescribed wherein an improved agitator system is employed in cooperationwith a container so as to thoroughly mix a dispensable fluid which ispositioned within the container and wherein the container has aremovable top or cover portion. The agitator system includes a magneticcoupling arrangement associated therewith which is driven by a fluidmotor impeller. The impeller is driven by a fluid which is customarilyavailable at little or no cost and which is further utilized in thesystem or subsequently dispensed with the concentrate so as to eliminatethe requirement of discarding the same. A removable stirring element issuspended from the container top or cover portion in order to preventthe same from being lost or being interferred with during the cleaningor replacement of the container.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBJULIO'ISH 744 754 SHEET 2 BF 2 -FIG2 1 AGITATING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toan improved agitator system that is employed in cooperation with acontainer so as to thoroughly mix a dispensable fluid held in thecontainer. More specifically, this invention relates to an improvedagitator system including a magnetic coupling associated therewith whichis driven by a fluid motor impeller. The dispensable fluid is used todrive the impeller prior to being subsequently conditioned anddischarged from the container with a concentrate or extract.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART There are presently available a wide variety ofdispensing devices that include an agitator assembly for mixing adispensable liquid; however, many of these agitator assemblies have notbeen found totally acceptable because of various reasons.

For example, one problem in conventional dispensers which employ abeverage or frozen concentrates to be dispensed, such as fresh fruitjuices, coffee, tea, or syrup, is the necessity of keeping theconcentrate cold to a certain extent to be palatable. This normally hasbeen done by the use of a refrigerating element which is placed in closeproximity to the dispenser in order to maintain or provide a coldenvironment for the concentrate. Further, in order to prevent theconstituents of the concentrate from settling on the bottom of thedispenser container, or stratifying therein, revolving paddles orcirculating pumps have been employed in the container for agitating theconcentrate. This form of agitation has been used in the beverageindustry but frequently not found acceptable since dead spots will occurin the region of the dispensing tap and on the bottom of the container.The liquid trapped in these dead spots not only becomes unpalatable, buttends to spoil more quickly than the cooler mixed liquid and causesdeposits of scum or sediment to form within the container. Also, thecirculation is inadequate next to the wall of the container, giving riseto a ring of scum thereon which is unsightly, hard to remove anddifficult to sterilize. Because of and to try to overcome theseproblems, the agitator assemblies normally have been operatedcontinuously.

Another problem encountered in paddle-type stirring mechanisms andconventional circulation pumps is the leakage of oil through the packingof the drive shafts. As is obviously known, the leakage of a very minutequantity of such oil in the beverage itself makes it unfit forconsumption.

A further disadvantage in conventional dispensers is that they normallyemploy an electric motor for driving the agitator assembly. Thisarrangement has not been found acceptable and should not be used becauseof the hazards attendant the generation of sparks which may occur upondeterioration of elastomers and insulating material used in the sealingof the electrical components. Aside from the sparking aspect, a furtherdisadvantage is their large size and bulkiness which greatly restrictstheir use. For example, the use of the electrical motor for driving theagitator assembly greatly hinders the production of portable beveragedispensers due to its space requirements. Additionally, it is wellrecognized that electrical motors by their very nature develop andproduce heat which may be deleterious to the dispensable liquids orconstituents.

Accordingly, there has arisen a need in the industry for the productionof a suitable agitator dispenser apparatus, preferably of simpleconstruction, whereby the rate of agitation may be controlled and theconcentrate will be subjected to a uniform, complete and thoroughagitation regardless of the container's configuration or the particularconstituents of the liquid contained therein.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The agitator apparatus of the present inventionsatisfies these needs by providing an improved magnetic coupling betweenthe agitator element and the fluid motor impeller. In addition, thefluid motor impeller itself is an improved impeller arrangement whichutilizes the hydraulic pressure of the dispensable fluid itself as thedriving force or source of power therefor. After the dispensable fluidleaves the impeller, the same may be subsequently conditioned by eitherbeing heated or cooled prior to being dispensed with or as a liquid suchas frozen orange juice, coffee, tea, syrup, hot cocoa, pre-mixedbeverage, carbonated beverage or preparations for making the same. Thus,a more compact, efficient, simply constructed and unique dispenserapparatus is provided incorporating an improved agitator assemblywhereby the product components are utilized in the system and nothingmust be discarded.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of this invention toprovide an improved agitator apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved agitatorapparatus incorporating a magnetic coupling generally of the typedescribed which is low in cost and of simple, reliable construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator dispenserwhich may be easily disassembled and cleaned in order to meet sanitationrequirements or purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator within aliquid or beverage container which may be driven by magnetic means thatdo not require passage of a shaft through a wall of the container, thuseliminating the need to seal the shaft against leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid motorimpeller arrangement for driving the magnetic coupling and wherein thedriving force therefor is customarily available for use at little or nocost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a more compactagitated dispensing system by employing the dispensable liquid as thedriving fluid for the fluid motor impeller and related magnetic couplingarrangement of the agitator apparatus to ensure that all productcomponents are utilized in the system and nothing is required to bediscarded. This alleviates the requirement for a separate driving forcefor actuating the agitator which normally has to be discarded after theimpeller driving operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an agitatordispenser which mixes the liquid uniformly, which maintains circulationin desired parts of the storage and dispensing system duringintermittant operation thereof, and which eliminates the formation ofscum or sediment on the walls of the container.

These and other objects and features of this invention along with itsincident advantages will be better understood and appreciated from thefollowing detailed description of an embodiment thereof, selected forpurposes of illustration only and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic view, partly insection and partly broken away, showing a beverage dispenser systemincluding an improved agitator assembly for the beverage dispenser inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view in section showing details of aconcentrate tank housing an agitator assembly embodied in thisinvention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top section view, partly broken away, showingdetails of a concentrate tank housing, with the tank cover removed,embodied in this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring to the drawings in detail, abeverage dispenser incorporating this invention is illustrated in FIGS.l-3. It will be understood that a housing, not shown, may be providedfor supporting and enclosing various operating components (schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 1) in operative assembled relation. While thedispenser is capable of quickly and positively discharging fiuids ofvarious types in different applications, it is particularly suited fordispensing both hot and cold liquid beverages at the same time. The termbeverage will be understood to include a variety of consumable liquidssuch as coffee, soup, beer, fruit juices such as orange juice, vegetablejuices, milk, tea, premixed beverages, carbonated beverages, and similarliquid foods and drinks. Separate metered quantities of either hot orcold liquids may be dispensed from each metering compartment of thedispenser, but for the purposes of illustration, the embodiment shown inFIGS. l-3 will be described in connection with the metering anddispensing of separate slugs of hot water and cold concentrate, orsyrup, to provide a blended hot beverage.

To effect precision metering and simultaneous discharge of water andbeverage concentrate in precisely proportioned quantities for a singleserving, a two stroke cycle metering pump is provided in accordance withthis invention as best seen in FIG. 1. The pump 10 has a tubular body 12and an attached coaxial housing portion 14 jointly defining alongitudinal extending chamber 16 wherein a piston subassembly isreceived for reciprocating movement.

The piston subassembly includes a water piston 18 of V shaped halfsection opening toward the housing portion 14 and a concentrate piston20 which is of reduced size and is reciprocable with a cylindrical liner22 preferably formed of stainless steel for increased abrasionresistance while minimizing any resistance to piston movement. The liner22 projects beyond housing portion 14 and into concentrate chamberhousing 24 suitably fixed to the housing portion 14 by a nut 26.

Concentrate inlet and outlet fittings 30, 32 are provided in theconcentrate chamber housing 24, and the inlet fitting is shown having acheck valve 34 exclusively providing one-way flow of concentrate intothe housing 24 through a supply line 35 connected to an insulatedconcentrate tank 36 (FIGS. 1-3) that maintains the concentrate in arefrigerated condition until discharged in a drink. If desired, the tank36 could also be adapted to serve as a source of concentrate to bedispensed at room temperature or even at elevated temperatures dependingon the uses to which the dispenser is to be applied.

A throw adjustment screw 38 is threadly secured within an end of thehousing 24. The screw 38 may be set to project a preselected distancebeyond an inner end of the plug 24 and then locked in position by a hexnut 42 to provide a left hand stop for the concentrate piston 20defining a discharged position for the piston subassembly.

The piston 22 is secured to an axially extending connecting rod 46integrally fixed to a circular end plate 48 of the water piston 18 thatis reciprocable within chamber 16 to an extent limited by a throwadjustment screw and a spacer plug (not shown) coaxially mounted withinthe-water piston 18 to provide a right hand stop defining a loadedposition for the piston subassembly.

To assist self-centering reciprocating movement of the pump 10, aperforated guide tube is coaxially received within the chamber 16 andhas a flared end 71 abutting housing portion 14 for seating one end of areturn compression spring 72 coiled about the guide tube 70 and thewater piston 18. It is to be noted that the guide tube 70 additionallyserves to maintain the return spring 72 in proper position.

The concentrate piston 20 and water piston 18 thus divide chamber 16into separate concentrate and water measuring chamber portions and arear operating chamber portion 84, the pistons 18, 20 and theirrespective chamber portions or compartments being of predetermined sizesfor precisely metering measured quantities of concentrate and water in afixed preselected ratio which may be controlled in volume by setting thethrow adjustment screw 38. The forward concentrate compartment isprovided with separate inlet and outlet fittings 30 and 32 as describedabove, and the back water compartment is also provided with separateinlet and outlet fittings86 and 88 secured to the body 12 and thehousing portion 14 respectively.

While not described in detail, suitable fluid-tight seals and packingrings are provided in the system where needed to ensure againstundesired fluid leakage between component body parts as well as betweenthe different compartments of the chamber 16 and their respectivefittings in accordance with well known conventional techniques. Each ofthe seals is preferably formed of a suitable, commercially available,dry bearing plastic material exhibiting low abrasive characteristics andminimal deformation under load while possessing high wear resistance andhigh compression strength over a wide range of temperature to provide asuitable low friction piston seal.

For illustrative purposes, the tank 90 is described as having a suitableheated liquid therein, although it is to be understood that thedispenser could be easily modified to permit tank 90 to serve in adifferent capacity, e.g., wherein another cold liquid is desired to bemixed with the refrigerated concentrate to provide a blended, coldbeverage.

To operate the pump 10 at high speed dispensing cycles with minimalenergy requirements, as well as to provide for minimum waterconsumption, a common supply and tank return conduit 92 is connected inpermanently open communication with the operating compartment 84 forsupplying tap water under pressure to drive the piston subassembly fromits loaded position to its discharged position. Thereafter, the spenttap water returns from the operating compartment 84 via conduit 92 tothe water tank 90 to be heated such that it is conditioned to bedispensed in a subsequent cycle. Moreover, the fluid circuit isparticularly suited for operation wherein ordinary city water issupplied at approximately 35 psi to psi gage pressure.

More specifically, the supply and tank return conduit 92 is connected toan open service port 94 in a solenoid operated main flow control valve96. The main control valve 96 has a normally closed inlet port 98communicating with an ordinarily water supply line 101, and a normallyopen outlet port 104 of the main control valve 96 is connected with thewater tank 90. A branch inlet line 105 is provided for supplying waterto the tank 90, excessive flow being accomodated by an overflow line 103connected to a suitable drain, not shown. The inlet water is controlledby a float operated valve 106 in the line 105 to assist in maintaining asubstantially constant volume within the tank 90.

The main control valve 96 is provided with suitable electricalconnections to be energized in response to a demand signal in a wallknown manner. Upon energization of the main valve 96, the pistons 18 and20 are immediately thrust forward against the spring force intodischarge position to simultaneously dispense cold concentrate and hotwater from the pump 10 through their respective outlets 32 and 88.

During this power stroke, the fluid circuit inlets to the concentrateand water compartment of the pump 10 are closed. While the check valve34 effectively prevents reverse flow of concentrate into tank 36, theinlet 86 to the water compartment is closed off to the water tank by avalve member 108 of a solenoid operated auxiliary control valve 110seating against a normally open working port 112 between a pump inletline 114 and a hot water conduit 116 extending upwardly in the tank 90for conducting hot water from the top of the tank 90 into the watercompartment of the pump 10. Although the auxiliary control valve 110 isnormally open, it is energized in phase with the main control valve 96to close off the inlet 86 between the pump 10 and the tank 90 during thepower stroke of the pump.

The water supply line 101 and branch inlet line 105 are connected to afluid motor impeller 60 that is fed by a water supply 100. The fluidmotor impeller 60 provides an intermittent agitation of the concentratein the tank 36 immediately preceding withdrawal of the concentratethrough supply line 35. The agitator assembly 80 for stirring theconcentrate is driven through a magnetic drive provided by the fluidmotor impeller 60.

The agitator assembly designated generally 80 has a plurality of vanes81 which are equally spaced and which extend radially from adjacent tothe center of the impeller to the outer periphery thereof. A stirrer rod85 is suspended within the container 36 from a removable lid portion 91.A pivot ball 89 is secured to the upper end of the stirrer rod 85 andpositioned within a cavity of the removable lid 91 so as to rotatetherein during the stirring of the concentrate. A bar magnet 82 iscompletely embedded within a plastic material 83 and attached to thelower end of the stirrer rod 85 by the vane portions 81.

The impeller 60 has a magnetic core 61 which may be of any suitablemanufacture. In the present instance the core 61 is a bipolar circularmagnet which is suitable sealed or embedded in a plastic ring portion 64so as to prevent the contamination of the product by the magnet or viceversa. This ring portion 64 is mounted for free rotation on a stud 63which is fixed centrally on the bottom wall portion 62 of the impeller60. A non-magnetic top plate 65 is secured to the bottom portion 62 bybolts 93. The impeller 60 is provided with an inlet 66 and outlet 67 (asshown in FIG. 3) for pas sage of water therethrough.

It will be apparent that as water enters the inlet 66 of the impeller 60from water supply 100, the impeller will rotate and when opposite polesof the magnets 61 and 83 come into registry there will be a magneticcoupling between the two so that they will revolve together as a unitcausing the agitator to stir the contents of the tank 36 to mix thecontents of the concentrate and prevent sediment from settling. It willalso be apparent that as the agitator rotates, liquid will flow throughthe grooves of the impeller 60 and provide a lubricant between the ringportion 64 and stud 63 so as to reduce wear of the parts of the impellerin contact therewith. Additionally, because of the large ratio of waterto concentrate, it will be apparent that there is sufficient volume ofwater available to drive the impeller and more compact operation ispresent.

It should be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, thepresent invention is nevertheless capable of wide variation within thepurview of the invention. For example, the present invention could beincorporated in a conventional premix carbonated beverage system. Suchconventional premix carbonated beverage systems generally employ a tankfor holding the premix beverage, a carbon dioxide inlet connection forthe tank, and a dip tube suspended within the tank and connected to anoutlet connection on the top cover portion of the tank. In normaloperation, carbon dioxide is supplied to the tank through the inletconnection of the tank for driving the pre-mix beverage up the dip tubeand out of the tank. The prernix beverage is then supplied through aserving nozzle to the consumer. The present invention can beincorporated in such a system so that a stirring element suspendedwithin the tank is driven by an agitator apparatus as described above.In such a system, the pre-mix beverage is withdrawn through the dip tubewithin the tank and supplied as the liquid drive for the fluid motorimpeller. After passing through the impeller, the premix beverage issupplied through a serving nozzle to the consumer.

In view of the above-described embodiments it will be seen that adispenser with an agitator assembly in accordance with this inventioncan be readily constructed for dispensing metered quantities of aplurality of different fluids each of which can be either hot or cold,depending on the requirements of the beverage desired to be dispensed.As aforesaid, the term beverage is meant to include a variety ofconsumable liquids such as coffee, soup, beer, fruit juices, vegetablejuices, milk, tea, pre-mix beverages, carbonated beverages and similarliquid foods and drinks. The agitator dispenser of this invention willbe seen to be of rugged, compact construction which is quick and easy toassemble in addition to being capable of providing de- It is believedthat the present invention, its mode of construction, assembly, andoperation, and many of its advantages attendant thereto should bereadily understood from the foregoing without further description, andit should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, thestructural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within thepurview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property right orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An agitator dispenser having a container for holding an additivefluid to be dispensed wherein:

agitating means are provided for agitating a dispensable additive fluidand wherein driving means are provided for driving the agitating means,torque being applied to the driving means by another fluid to bedispensed with the additive (the dispensable) fluid.

2. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the drivingmeans for driving the agitating means comprises a magnetic couplingmeans.

3. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the drivingmeans comprises an impeller having an inlet and outlet connection forthe dispensable fluid.

4. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the agitatingmeans comprises a magnetic element immersed within the container holdingthe additive fluid so as to form a magnetic coupling with said drivingmeans.

5. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 4,

wherein the magnetic elementis suspended within the container holdingthe additive fluid from a removable top or cover for the container so asto provide an easily removable agitator element and prevent the samefrom being lost during the cleaning or replacement of the container.

6. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein conduit meansare provided for routing the dispensed fluid from the driving means to aconditioning chamber prior to being dispensed with the additive from thecontainer.

7. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 6, wherein the additivewithin the container comprises a beverage extract.

8. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein control means areprovided for intermittent operation of the agitating means immediatelypreceding dispensing of the extract.

9. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein conduit means areprovided for routing the dispensed fluid to a conditioning chamber priorto being dispensed with the extract.

10. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein control meansare provided for intermittent agitation of the additive fluid within thecontainer immediately preceding dispensing of the same.

11. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein the dispensiblefluid comprises a pre-mix beverage and wherein a dip tube is providedwithin the container for withdrawal of the pre-mix beverage:

12. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 11 wherein a servingnozzle means are provided for dispensing the pre-mix beverage afteroperation of the agitating means by the pre-mix beverage.

1. An agitator dispenser having a container for holding an additivefluid to be dispensed wherein: agitating means are provided foragitating a dispensable additive fluid and wherein driving means areprovided for driving the agitating means, torque being applied to thedriving means by another fluid to be dispensed with the additive (thedispensable) fluid.
 2. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1,wherein the driving means for driving the agitating means comprises amagnetic coupling means.
 3. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 1,wherein the driving means comprises an impeller having an inlet andoutlet connection for the dispensable fluid.
 4. An agitator dispenser asdefined in claim 1, wherein the agitating means comprises a magneticelement immersed within the container holding the additive fluid so asto form a magnetic coupling with said driving means.
 5. An agitatordispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein the magnetic element issuspended within the container holding the additive fluid from aremovable top or cover for the container so as to provide an easilyremovable agitator element and prevent the same from being lost duringthe cleaning or replacement of the container.
 6. An agitator dispenseras defined in claim 1, wherein conduit means are provided for routingthe dispensed fluid from the driving means to a conditioning chamberprior to being dispensed with the additive from the container.
 7. Anagitator dispenser as defined in claim 6, wherein the additive withinthe container comprises a beverage extract.
 8. An agitator dispenser asdefined in claim 7 wherein control means are provided for intermittentoperation of the agitating means immediately preCeding dispensing of theextract.
 9. An agitator dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein conduitmeans are provided for routing the dispensed fluid to a conditioningchamber prior to being dispensed with the extract.
 10. An agitatordispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein control means are provided forintermittent agitation of the additive fluid within the containerimmediately preceding dispensing of the same.
 11. An agitator dispenseras defined in claim 1 wherein the dispensible fluid comprises a pre-mixbeverage and wherein a dip tube is provided within the container forwithdrawal of the pre-mix beverage.
 12. An agitator dispenser as definedin claim 11 wherein a serving nozzle means are provided for dispensingthe pre-mix beverage after operation of the agitating means by thepre-mix beverage.